1 Kings 3 · Verse 5

1 Kings 3:5

In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
1 Kings 3:5, King James Version

1 Kings 3:5 in other translations

BSBOne night at Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “Ask, and I will give it to you!”
WEBIn Gibeon, the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask for what I should give you.”
ASVIn Gibeon Jehovah appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
YLTIn Gibeon hath Jehovah appeared unto Solomon, in a dream of the night, and God saith, ‘Ask--what do I give to thee?'
DARBYIn Gibeon Jehovah appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
BBEIn Gibeon, Solomon had a vision of the Lord in a dream by night; and God said to him, Say what I am to give you.
WebsterIn Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.

What does 1 Kings 3:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
5. In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream--It was probably at the close of this season, when his mind had been elevated into a high state of religious fervor by the protracted services. Solomon felt an intense desire, and he had offered an earnest petition, for the gift of wisdom. In sleep his thoughts ran upon the subject of his prayer, and he dreamed that God appeared to him and gave him the option of every thing in the world--that he asked wisdom, and that God granted his request (1Ki 3:9-12). His dream was but an imaginary repetition of his former desire, but God's grant of it was real. 1Ki 3:6-15. He Chooses Wisdom.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream - This was the night after he had offered the sacrifices, (see 2Chr 1:7), and probably after he had earnestly prayed for wisdom; see Wis. 7:7: Wherefore I prayed, and understanding was given me: I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me. If this were the case, the dream might have been the consequence of his earnest prayer for wisdom: the images of those things which occupy the mind during the day are most likely to recur during the night; and this, indeed, is the origin of the greater part of our dreams. But this appears to have been supernatural. Gregory Nyssen, speaking of different kinds of dreams, observes that our organs and brain are not unlike a musical instrument; while the strings of such instruments have their proper degree of tension, they give, when touched, a harmonious sound, but as soon as they are relaxed or screwed down, they give no sound at all. During our waking hours, our senses, touched by our reason, produce the most harmonious concert; but as soon as we are asleep, the instrument is no longer capable of emitting any sound, unless it happen that the remembrance of what passed during the day returns and presents itself to the mind while we are asleep, and so forms a dream; just as the strings of an instrument continue to emit feeble sounds for some time after the musician has ceased to strike them. - See Greg. Nyss. De opificio hominis, cap. xii., p. 77. Oper. vol. i., edit. Morell., Par. 1638. This may account, in some measure, for common dreams: but even suppose we should not allow that Solomon had been the day before earnestly requesting the gift of wisdom from God, yet we might grant that such a dream as this might be produced by the immediate influence of God upon the soul. And if Solomon received his wisdom by immediate inspiration from heaven, this was the kind of dream that he had; a dream by which that wisdom was actually communicated. But probably we need not carry this matter so much into miracle: God might be the author of his extraordinary wisdom, as he was the author of his extraordinary riches. Some say, "He lay down as ignorant as other men, and yet arose in the morning wiser than all the children of men." I think this is as credible as that he lay down with a scanty revenue, and in the morning, when he arose, found his treasury full. In short, God's especial blessing brought him riches through the medium of his own care and industry; as the inspiration of the Almighty gave him understanding, while he gave his heart to seek and search out by his wisdom, concerning all things under the sun, Ecc 1:13. God gave him the seeds of an extraordinary understanding, and, by much study and research, they grew up under the Divine blessing, and produced a plentiful harvest; but, alas! they did not continue to grow.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Kings 3:5-15
Solomon's dream was not a common one. While his bodily powers were locked up in sleep, the powers of his soul were strengthened; he was enabled to receive the Divine vision, and to make a suitable choice. God, in like manner, puts us in the ready way to be happy, by assuring us we shall have what we need, and pray for. Solomon's making such a choice when asleep, and the powers of reason least active, showed it came from the grace of God. Having a humble sense of his own wants and weakness, he pleads, Lord, I am but a little child. The more wise and considerate men are, the better acquainted they are with their own weakness, and the more jealous of themselves. Solomon begs of God to give him wisdom. We must pray for it, Jas 1:5, that it may help us in our particular calling, and the various occasions we have. Those are accepted of God, who prefer spiritual blessings to earthly good. It was a prevailing prayer, and prevailed for more than he asked. God gave him wisdom, such as no other prince was ever blessed with; and also gave him riches and honour. If we make sure of wisdom and grace, these will bring outward prosperity with them, or sweeten the want of it. The way to get spiritual blessings, is to wrestle with God in prayer for them. The way to get earthly blessings, is to refer ourselves to God concerning them. Solomon has wisdom given him, because he did ask it, and wealth, because he did not.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

1 Kings 3:5 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

בְּגִבְע֗וֹןbe.giv.'onat GibeonH1391
נִרְאָ֧הnir.'Ahhe appearedH7200
יְהֹוָ֛הYah.wehYahwehH3068
אֶל\־'el-toH413
שְׁלֹמֹ֖הshe.lo.MohSolomonH8010
בַּחֲל֣וֹםba.cha.Lomin a dreamH2472
הַלָּ֑יְלָהha.La.ye.lahthe nightH3915
וַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
אֱלֹהִ֔ים'E.lo.HimGodH430
שְׁאַ֖לshe.'AlaskH7592
מָ֥הmahwhat?H4100
אֶתֶּן\־'e.ten-will I giveH5414
לָֽךְ\׃Lakhto you

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Kings 3:5

  • 1 Kings 9:2

    That the Lord appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon.

  • James 1:5-6

    If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

  • Numbers 12:6

    And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.

  • 2 Chronicles 1:7-12

    In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead. Now, O Lord God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great? …

  • John 14:13-14

    And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

  • Mark 10:36

    And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?

  • Genesis 28:12-13

    And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;

  • Matthew 2:13

    And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

  • 1 Kings 11:9

    And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,

  • Matthew 2:19

    But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

  • John 15:16

    Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

  • Matthew 7:7-8

    Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the Lord.
9:2
in a dream.
Ge 28:12,13; Nu 12:6; Job 33:14,15; Mt 1:20; 2:13,19
Ask what.
2Ch 1:7-12; Mt 7:7,8; Mr 10:36,38-51; 11:24; Joh 14:13,14; 15:16
Jas 1:5,6; 1Jo 5:14,15

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Kings 3:4

    And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar.

  • 1 Kings 3:5

    In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.

  • 1 Kings 3:6

    And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.

Read all of 1 Kings 3

1 Kings 3:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y aparecióse Jehová á Salomón en Gabaón una noche en sueños, y díjo le Dios: Pide lo que quisieres que yo te dé.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
L’ Éternel apparut à Salomon, à Gabaon, dans un songe de la nuit. Et Dieu dit: Demande ce que tu veux que je te donne.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Zu Gibeon erschien Jehova dem Salomo in einem Traume der Nacht; und Gott sprach: Bitte, was ich dir geben soll.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Apparuit autem Dominus Salomoni per somnium nocte, dicens: Postula quod vis ut dem tibi.